Friday, November 30, 2007

In 1971, John Lennon and Yoko Ono recorded the song "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)", which is, in my opinion, one of the greatest songs, let alone holiday songs ever recorded.

From the lyrics:

And so this is XmasAnd what have we doneAnother year overA new one just begunAnd so happy XmasWe hope you have funThe near and the dear oneThe old and the youngA very Merry XmasAnd a happy New YearLet's hope it's a good oneWithout any fearWar is over,if you want itWar is over now

The other day I was Xmas shopping, and I heard one of the many cover versions of this song being played in the store. I don't know who it was by, one of the new country flavor of the month singers, I suspect. I noticed one thing that set me back, and made me think, though. The song was well performed, but the emphasis was changed from the original, and the original intent. The chorus of "War is Over, If you want it, War is Over Now", was part of the song, but it was barely audible, basically being whispered by the background singers, thus making it almost unnoticeable. If this was an attempt at putting a subliminal message in the song, I would appreciate it, but I think it was more of an attempt to put this song on somebodies Xmas album without acknowledging the real message of the song, in fact trying to eliminate it entirely. And yes, despite the recent controversy, I'm using "Xmas" just like John and Yoko did, rather than Christmas. Yes, I hope it cheeses off some Christians. I really do.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Pepsi has decided that there just aren't enough extreme sodas out there. They've been niche marketing their Mountain Dew product line for a while now, and they've applied for trademark protection for the following names:

By the way, the Uranium Ice Cream was from western New Zealand, back during the Uranium naming craze. No word what it tasted like, or if it in fact contained Uranium. "You'll be surprised how fast your tongue falls off!"

Monday, November 12, 2007

Gene Autry's Cowboy Code (1930)1. The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man or take an unfair advantage.2. A Cowboy must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him.3. A Cowboy must always tell the truth.4. A Cowboy must be gentle with children, the elderly and small animals.5. A Cowboy must not adovcate or possess racially or religiously interolerant views and ideas.6. A Cowboy must help people in distress.7. A Cowboy must be a good worker.8. A Cowboy must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action and personal habits.9. A Cowboy must respect women, parents and his nations's views.10. A Cowboy is a patriot.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

What, more ironic that the vice president shooting a guy in the face and then that guy apologising to the VP?

Yep.

Here he is, the man who has no legs to stand on, morally speaking, who looks like he's being supported by two men who have lost their actual legs as a direct result of his actions. You can almost hear them saying. "Mr. President, you made me the man I am today."

I don't know if any of you know this, but after World War I, you know, the war to end all wars, veterans who were amputees would march together or be rolled in wheeled chairs together, in parades, to show what war was really all about, as a protest against wars, and what they do to people. This was before the Military-Industrial Complex took a strangle hold on the economy.

Did you also know that the M-I-C s latest profit making venture is insanely profitable Mercenary Soldiers? Companies like Blackwater are doing the jobs that our soldiers should be doing, but can't, because there just aren't enough soldiers, or at least enough live and limbs-intact soldiers. And get this, each Mercenary we hire over there is costing at least 445,000 dollars a year. That sure would buy a lot of body armor and more heavily armored vehicles, I think. By some counts, there are more mercenaries in Iraq than US Armed Forces. By the way, the mercenaries simply HATE being called mercenaries. They're just ex-soldiers who can be hired out to fight for the highest bidder, have better, more modern weaponry, are paid vastly more than regular troops, and are totally unaccountable to anyone. I know, the difference is subtle. You know, like the difference between pirates and privateers. (Privateers were basically pirates with a liscence to pillage from some government, hired to disrupt the trade of that countries enemies.) Too subtle for the likes of me.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Friday, November 02, 2007

Listening to the Democrats talk about what the Republicans want, and the Republicans talk about what the Democrats want, and what the Democrats and Republicans say about what they want, I thought it might be fun to say what I think they really want, when I attempt to pare down overall agendas to their bare bones.

I think:

The Democrats want to try to effect the most good for the largest number of citizens.

I think:

The Republicans want to increase the wealth of the wealtiest citizens, at any cost.

That's it. When you take away everything else, I believe that those are the true motivations of both parties. Oh, there are more parties. Oh, If I must.

I think:The Libertarians want there to be no taxes on anything, or restrictions on anything, but they still want good roads and libraries, and lots and lots of drugs.